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Unit outline_

IMMU3202: Immunology in Human Disease

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This study unit builds on the series of lectures that outlined the general properties of the immune system, effector lymphocytes and their functions, delivered in the core courses , IMMU2101 ­ Introductory Immunology and BMED2404 ­ Microbes, Infection and Immunity (formerly IMMU2001 and BMED2807) IMMU2X11 Immunobiology and MIMI2X02/MEDS2004 Microbes, Infection and Immunity. We emphasise fundamental concepts to provide a scientific basis for studies in clinical immunology; dysfunctions of the immune system e.g. autoimmune disease, immunodeficiencies, and allergy, and immunity in terms of host ­ pathogen interactions. This unit has a strong focus on significant clinical problems in immunology and the scientific background to these problems. The unit includes lectures from research scientists and clinicians covering areas such as allergy, immunodeficiency, autoimmune disease and transplantation. This course provides challenging information from the forefront of clinical immunology and helps the student develop an understanding of immune responses in human health and disease. Three lectures (1 hour each) will be given each fortnight: 2 lectures in one week and one lecture the following week, for the duration of the course. This unit directly complements the unit 'Molecular and Cellular Immunology IMMU3102' and students are very strongly advised to undertake these study units concurrently.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
IMMU2101 or BMED2404 or MEDS2004 or MIMI2X02 or IMMU2X11
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
IMMU3903
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Allison Abendroth, allison.abendroth@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Carl Feng, carl.feng@sydney.edu.au
Allison Abendroth, allison.abendroth@sydney.edu.au
Alexandra Sharland, alexandra.sharland@sydney.edu.au
Jamie Triccas, jamie.triccas@sydney.edu.au
Jessie Lee, jessie.lee@sydney.edu.au
Roger Garsia, r.garsia@sydney.edu.au
Rogan Lee, rogan.lee@sydney.edu.au
Stephen Adelstein, stephen.adelstein@sydney.edu.au
Scott Stimpson, scott.stimpson@sydney.edu.au
Kylie Shaddock, kylie.shaddock@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Written exam
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Tutorial quiz Practical class quizzes
Quizzes
5% Multiple weeks 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Presentation Workshop Oral Paper presentation
Oral presentation
15% Multiple weeks 12 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment Practical assignment
Practical assessment
15% Week 08 1250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Poster abstract and presentation
Poster presentation
15% Week 13 12 min talk and 250 word abstract
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and course overview Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 02 Workshop 1 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
1.Immunology of pregnancy and neonatal immunology; 2. MHC/genetics of immunological disease Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 Practical 1. 1. Introduction to the IMMU3202 practical class; 2. Viral case studies: investigating infection, immunity, and diagnosis of varicella zoster virus infections (part 1) Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
1. Immunity to infectious pathogens 1: viruses and immune evasion; 2 Immunity to infectious pathogens 2: intracellular and extracellular bacteria Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 04 Workshop 2 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Immunity to infection pathogens 3: parasites and immune evasion Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 05 Practical 2. Viral case studies: investigating infection, immunity, and diagnosis of varicella zoster virus infections (part 2) Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
7. Vaccination and novel vaccine approaches 8. Immunodeficiences: Molecular basis of primary immunodeficiences Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 06 Workshop 3. Oral journal paper presentation Presentation (2 hr) LO2 LO3
9. Acquired immunodeficiency: HIV/AIDS; Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 07 Practical 3. Immunodeficiency case studies: acquired and congenital immunodeficiency cases Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
10. Neuroimmunology; 11. Skin immunology Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 08 12. Transplantation Immunology Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 09 Workshop 4. Oral journal paper presentation Presentation (2 hr) LO2 LO3
13. Tumor Immunology 14. Self-Tolerance and Autoimmunity Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 10 Practical 4. Immune-mediated case studies: immune mediated haemolysis and autoimmune disorders Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
15. Autoimmune Diseases Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 11 Workshop 5 Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
16. Cancer Immunotherapy 17. Allergic Diseases and immunotherapy Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 12 18. Advances in Technology-Omics Era in Immunology of Human Disease Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 13 Allergy/snake bite and immunotherapies Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Poster presentation Presentation (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
19. Aging immune system and immunosenescence 20. Make up lecture slot/Revision Lecture (2 hr) LO1

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Satisfactory attendance at all workshops and practical classes is therefore a requirement to pass this course. For Immunology in Human Disease, satisfactory attendance is defined as ≥ 80% which means that if you miss more than 2 workshops or 2 practical classes without approved special consideration for illness or misadventure, or pre-approved Special arrangement, you will not be allowed to pass this unit of study. Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late to a tutorial or practical class will be recorded as being absent.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 9th Ed 2018, AK Abbas, AH Lichtman & Pillai, Elsevier.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand how principles of immunology are applied to the understanding and treatment of human diseases
  • LO2. demonstrate effective skills in retrieving, analysing, and interpreting scientific information from current literature sources
  • LO3. demonstrate advanced oral and written communication skills
  • LO4. demonstrate knowledge of and training in analysis and interpretation of laboratory based experiments

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Poster presentations done on an individual basis rather than in pairs

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.